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Our Team

Looking Up to Our Leaders

Our teachers and aides possess a wide range of teaching experiences with children and families and are the cornerstones of the Creative Playschool team.

Early childhood teaching is a continuous process of planning and observing. Teachers plan activities and experiences that help children learn. As teachers observe, they learn about the children and can plan new activities and teaching strategies to challenge the children even further. We believe our teachers and aides, working in partnership with you, will enable your child to flourish.

Sarah Jolly-Ballantine

Sarah graduated with a B.A. in Biology from Earlham College, IN in 1998 and a M.Ed. in Science Education from the University of Maine in 2003. She developed curriculum and taught preschool through the graduate level at universities, natural history museums, and nature centers for 12 years before becoming a parent. Her family relocated from Maine in 2008, and she chose to become a stay-at-home mom to her one-year-old at that time. She started teaching part time at the Children’s Museum of Southeastern CT in 2010 when her oldest child started at Creative Playschool. Through the Museum, Sarah was the primary teacher of the toddler classes for ages one through three. She continues to teach those toddler classes, as well as watershed education outreach programs for 3rd to 7th graders, for the Children’s Museum.

Sarah has been involved with Creative since 2010. Both of Sarah’s children attended Creative, and she served on the Board as Activities Coordinator, Class Representative, and Co-President. Sarah is now excited to combine her knowledge of and deep appreciation for the approach and philosophy of Creative with her experience in education as a Lead Teacher. She lives in Niantic with her husband and children. Her son Kai (10) is in 4th grade, and her daughter Ayla (6) is starting Kindergarten.

In her spare time, Sarah enjoys traveling with her family and dog (Iolo), gardening, and creating stained glass art.

Kelli Daugherity

Kelli graduated from Clemson University in South Carolina with a Master's Degree in Civil Engineering. Upon graduating in 1998, she moved to Connecticut and worked as a Project Engineer and Contracts Manager for local Construction Management companies. She married her husband, Patrick, in 1999. Together they have two children, Connor (13) and Caroline (11). After 10 years of working in the Construction industry, she chose to refocus her time on her family.

She has been a member of the Creative Family since 2007. Both of her children attended Creative Playschool and Kelli served on the Board as Enrollment Officer during this time. She joined our teaching staff staff in 2010. Keli has classroom experience as both a teacher aid and lead teacher.

In her spare time she enjoys gardening, cooking and traveling with her family.

Jean Bradley

Jean received a B.A. in English from Connecticut College and a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from The George Washington University. She taught fourth and fifth grades for several years in Fairfax County, VA. Jean moved back to Connecticut in 1998 and has worked as a tutor and substitute teacher for East Lyme and Salem Public Schools. She enjoys teaching children of all ages but readily admits that working with preschoolers is her favorite!!! Jean joined our staff in 2013 and has classroom experience as both an aide and a lead teacher at Creative Playschool.

Jean was an active member of the Creative Playschool community from 1999 until 2005, serving as Enrollment Officer and Vice President. She has been happily married to her husband Chase for twenty four years and has four children: Drew (21), Cara (19), Zachary (17) and Matthew (13). In her spare time Jean loves to run, hike with her three dogs, read and travel with her family.

Meghan Cambridge

Meghan received her Bachelor’s Degree in early childhood education from Cambridge College in Boston Ma. She moved from Marshfield, Ma. to East Lyme in 2011 with her husband Ian. Together they have four children, Madeline (16), Sophia (15), Ian (12) and Ronan (6).

In her spare time, she enjoys craft projects, exploring Connecticut and spending time with her family and animals.

MaryLu Clark

Marylu Clark holds a BA from Eastern Connecticut State University. She is also certified from the school of Hartford Ballet and American Ballet theater’s Teacher Certification programs.

She has been working with children for 30 years and is happy to be joining the Creative Playschool team!

Lauren Sharrio

Lauren is a current student at Post University and is working towards earning her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education.

Alongside her daughter attending Creative in the past, she has served on the Board as a Fundraiser Officer.

Lauren, her husband, and two children live in Waterford, Ct. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.